Okay so I kept seeing people talking about a 4th stimulus check supposedly dropping in December, and I finally looked into it because honestly I was curious if there was any truth to it. Turns out the IRS straight up said nope, not happening. Like, people were claiming payments would range from $500 to $2,000 depending on your state, but the IRS confirmed there's no fourth round of stimulus checks authorized. The last one was back in 2021 with the American Rescue Plan. What's actually real though is if you somehow missed getting your third stimulus or didn't get the full amount, you might be able to claim something called the Recovery Rebate Credit when you file taxes. Some people are still eligible apparently. But here's the thing - it's not automatic like the old stimulus checks were. You actually have to file a return to get it. The 4th stimulus check release date rumors were basically just internet noise, but some states ARE issuing actual tax-related payments in the coming months, so that's worth checking if you're in Alabama, Arizona, Maryland, New York, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee or Texas. Anyway, don't fall for the 4th stimulus check hype - just focus on whether you're actually owed money from previous years.